Pathfinder 1E I don't understand the Pathfinder Society Open Scenario Call

[sunmaster]

Hi,

I want to participate in the Open Scenario Call of Paizo but I don't know what they really want from the fan writers.

It is written that we should write 700 words about the next scenario.

1. Based on a summary posted on the Paizo daily blog (see below), write a 750-word outline following the format of already available–for–sale scenarios.

But the outline is already given. For example for the number 17:

A gang of River Kingdoms pirates begs the Society for help after several members are found dead dangling in spider webs stretched across the Sellen River near Numeria. They offer an ancient text as a reward—an ancient text they originally stole from a Pathfinder venture—captain.

This outline is similar to the outlines of already available-for-sale scenarios.
For example here for the number 3:

Volunteers are needed to escort the body of a deceased venture-captain across the parched Qadiran desert to Katheer. The Silken Caravan offers passage, hauling exotic treasures across the perilous sea of sands. You'll brave bandits, spies, and unwelcome mourners hell-bent on paying respects to your dead companion. Worse still, the caravan's mistress, a satin-swathed Qadiran princess, has designs of her own on you and your cargo.

Then in the Open Call there is a section description for 7000 words at the bottom of the Open Call. And it is written that we should keep it in mind while writing our 700 words. If I read the outlines of the already published scenarios - for example of number 3 which I have quoted above - then I cannot understand how this outline can in any form determine the 7000 word article: meaning, you could, beginning from the outline, very well write something consisting of 70k words - or even 70M words - but also only 1000 words.


So, again my questions:
a) The outlines for #17 and #18 are already written - at the bottom of the Call - . And the outlines for both are already similar to the published scenarios.
What should _we_ write then?

b) What do I have to really think about when keeping in mind the 7000 word sections while writing my 700 words? How do the 700 words influence the 7000 words and vice versa?

Can someone explain this to me, please?
I can think that there are more people who are confused by the Open Call and the explanation could help them, too.


regards
sunmaster


EDIT: Ahh, maybe we should section our 700 words as given at the bottom of the Open Call!??!
But then the word counts of
Intro (1,000)
Encounter #1 (750)
...

Conclusion (500)
Faction Missions + Summary (1,900)
Extra words (345)
don't make sense ???

 

[RangerWickett]

They want you to write a 750 word outline for an adventure based on one of the two scenarios they've already got planned. While writing the outline, they suggest you bear in mind that the entire adventure will be about 7000 words, which is rather short for most adventures, but these are intended to fit into one 4-hour block.

Does that make sense?

 

[sunmaster]

Ahh, we should write a totally new adventure.
That makes sense.

Thank you, Ranger Wickett for your help.

 

[RangerWickett]

That's not quite right either. They want you to take one of these two brief ideas --

[sblock]Pathfinder Society Scenario #17: Perils of the Pirate Pact

A gang of River Kingdoms pirates begs the Society for help after several members are found dead dangling in spider webs stretched across the Sellen River near Numeria. They offer an ancient text as a reward—an ancient text they originally stole from a Pathfinder venture—captain.

This is a three-tiered scenario intended for 1st to 7th level characters (Tier 1–7; Tiers 1–2, 3–4, and 6–7). It must include pirates, spiders, and at least one ettercap. It must be set on the Sellen River near the Numeria border in the River Kingdoms.
[/sblock]

or

[sblock]Pathfinder Society Scenario #18: The Trouble with Secrets

A secret vault beneath the Grand Lodge remains sealed after more than a century to hide an embarrassing event in the Society's past. When reports surface that the vault is open, the society sends the PCs to seal it and keep the Society's darkest secret forever hidden.

This is a two-tiered scenario intended for 5th to 9th level characters (Tier 5–9; Tiers 5–6 and 8–9). It must include at least one vampire and must be set beneath the Grand Lodge in Absalom.
[/sblock]

-- and expand that to a 750-word outline. If you're selected, you'll then expand that outline to a 7000-word adventure.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

Keep in mind that the "outlines" they provided are only around fifty words. They want you to expand this, probably describing all five encounters in your version of the scenario.

But like Ranger Wicket said, stick to the scenario they provided.

 

[James Jacobs]

a) The outlines for #17 and #18 are already written - at the bottom of the Call - . And the outlines for both are already similar to the published scenarios.
What should _we_ write then?

What we want is 700 or so words that takes the short summary for #17 and #18 (those aren't actual outlines; they're WAY too short to be outlines) and develop them into a new adventure along the lines of the summary. Make it into an adventure that's different than the others, show us what kind of villains and encounters your adventure would have, and tell us the plot of the adventure. A little bit of this involves rewriting/reworking the short summaries into something more detailed, of course.

b) What do I have to really think about when keeping in mind the 7000 word sections while writing my 700 words? How do the 700 words influence the 7000 words and vice versa?

There's two ways your 700 word outline helps us. It lets us know you've got some good ideas that can work within the constraints of a small word count and an established story kernel, and more importantly, it lets us see if you can write. An outline that contains errors in spelling, grammar, rules content, or other areas won't be accepted. Likewise, dull and pedantic writing styles (such as the use of passive voice) have a MUCH smaller chance of helping than a vibrant writing style. Basically, this is your chance to catch our attention with your skill at writing and your imagination.